State Council of the People's Republic of China

The State Council (simplified Chinese: 国务院; traditional Chinese: 國務院; pinyin: Guówùyuàn), constitutionally synonymous with the Central People's Government (Chinese: 中央人民政府) since 1954 (particularly in relation to local governments), is the chief administrative authority of the People's Republic of China.^[1] It is chaired by the Premier and includes the heads of each governmental department and agency.^[2] Currently, the council has 35 members: the premier, one executive vice premier, three vice premiers, five state councilors (of whom two are also ministers), and 25 additional ministers and chairs of major agencies.^[3] In the politics of the People's Republic of China, the Central People's Government forms one of three interlocking branches of power, the others being the Communist Party of China and the People's Liberation Army. The State Council directly oversees the various subordinate People's Governments in the provinces, and in practice maintains membership with the top levels of the Communist Party of China.

Organization

The State Council meets once every six months. Between meetings it is guided by a Politburo that meets weekly. The standing committee includes the premier, one executive vice premier, three vice premiers, and five other state councilors (one of whom serves as Secretary General of the State Council, and two of whom concurrently serve as ministers).

The vice-premiers and state councilors are nominated by the premier, and appointed by the president with National People's Congress' (NPC) approval. Incumbents may serve two successive five-year terms.

Each vice premier oversees certain areas of administration. Each State Councilor performs duties as designated by the Premier. The secretary-general heads the General Office which handles the day-to-day work of the State Council. The secretary-general has relatively little power and should not be confused with the General Secretary of the Communist Party of China.

Each ministry supervises one sector. Commissions outrank ministries and set policies for and coordinate the related activities of different administrative organs. Offices deal with matters of ongoing concern. Bureaus and administrations rank below ministries.

In addition to the 25 ministries, there are 38 centrally administered government organizations that report directly to the state council. The heads of these organizations attend full meetings of the state committee on an irregular basis.

The State Council is formally responsible to the NPC and its Standing Committee in conducting a wide range of government functions both at the national and at the local levels, and nominally acts by virtue of the NPC's authority. There has been at least one case where the NPC has outright rejected an initiative of the State Council and a few cases where the State Council has withdrawn or greatly modified a proposal in response to NPC opposition.

The State Council and the Communist Party of China are also tightly interlocked. With rare exceptions, State Councilors are high-ranking members of the CCP. Although, as party members, they are supposed to follow party instructions, because they tend to be senior members of the party they also have substantial influence over what those instructions are. This results in a system which is unlike the Soviet practice in which the Party effectively controlled the state. Rather, the party and state are fused at this level of government. The members of the State Council derive their authority from being members of the state, while as members of the Party they coordinate their activities and determine key decisions such as the naming of personnel.

There were attempts to separate the party and state in the late 1980s under Zhao Ziyang and have the Party in charge of formulating policy and the State Council executing policy, but these efforts were largely abandoned in the early 1990s.

As the chief administrative organ of government, its main functions are to formulate administrative measures, issue decisions and orders, and monitor their implementation; draft legislative bills for submission to the NPC or its Standing Committee; and prepare the economic plan and the state budget for deliberation and approval by the NPC. The State Council is the functional center of state power and clearinghouse for government initiatives at all levels. With the government's emphasis on economic modernization, the State Council clearly acquired additional importance and influence.

The State Council controls the Ministry for National Defense but does not control the People's Liberation Army, which is instead controlled by the Central Military Commission.

Principal officers

China
This article is part of a series on the politics and government of China
Leadership Leadership generations Collective leadership Paramount leader Current leadership Xi-Li Administration National leaders President (list): Xi Jinping Vice President (list): Li Yuanchao Provincial leaders
Communist Party History Organization National Party Congress (18th) Central Committee (18th) General Secretary (list) Xi Jinping Central Politburo (18th) Standing Committee (list) Central Secretariat Top-ranked secretary: Liu Yunshan Central Military Commission Chairman: Xi Jinping National Security Commission Chairman: Xi Jinping Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (18th) Standing Committee (18th) Secretary: Wang Qishan
Ideology Marxism–Leninism Maoism  ("Mao Zedong Thought") Socialism with Chinese characteristics Deng Xiaoping Theory Primary stage of socialism Four Cardinal Principles Three Represents Scientific Outlook on Development Harmonious Socialist Society Chinese Dream
Constitution Law Constitution Current constitution (1982) Previous constitutions 1954 1975 1978 "People's democratic dictatorship" Laws Statutes
Legislative National People's Congress (12th) Members Presidium Standing Committee Chairman: Zhang Dejiang
Executive State Council (Li's Government) Premier (list): Li Keqiang Vice Premiers (list) Zhang Gaoli Liu Yandong Wang Yang Ma Kai State Councilors Secretary-General
United Front Political Consultative Conference National Committee Chairman: Yu Zhengsheng Political parties
Military Central Military Commission Chairman: Xi Jinping People's Liberation Army People's Armed Police Force State Council National Mobilization Commission Chairman: Li Keqiang Ministry of National Defense Minister: Chang Wanquan People's Armed Police Force National Security Commission Chairman: Xi Jinping
Judiciary Central Politics and Law Commission Secretary: Meng Jianzhu Supreme People's Court President: Zhou Qiang Supreme People's Procuratorate Procurator-General: Cao Jianming
Publicity Leading Group for Propaganda Central Guidance Commission for Building Spiritual Civilization Chairman: Liu Yunshan Propaganda Department Head: Liu Qibao
Foreign relations Foreign aid program China and the United Nations China–United States relations
Related topics Administrative divisions Politics of Hong Kong Politics of Macau Elections Human rights Internet Internet censorship
Other countries Atlas Politics portal

Organizational structure

General Office of the State Council

• State Council General Office
  • Secretary General of the State Council
  • Vice Secretary Generals of the State Council

Ministries and Commissions under the State Council

1. Ministry of Foreign Affairs
2. Ministry of National Defense
3. National Development and Reform Commission
4. Ministry of Education
5. Ministry of Science and Technology
6. Ministry of Industry and Information Technology
7. Ministry of Ethnic Affairs
8. Ministry of State Security
9. Ministry of Public Security
10. Ministry of Supervision
11. Ministry of Civil Affairs
12. Ministry of Justice
13. Ministry of Finance
14. Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security
15. Ministry of Land and Resources
16. Ministry of Environmental Protection
17. Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development
18. Ministry of Transport
19. Ministry of Water Resources
20. Ministry of Agriculture
21. Ministry of Commerce
22. Ministry of Culture
23. National Health and Family Planning Commission
24. People's Bank
25. National Audit Office

Special Organization directly under the State Council

• State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission (SASAC)

Organizations directly under the State Council

1. General Administration of Customs
2. State Administration of Taxation
3. State Administration for Industry and Commerce
4. General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine
5. State Administration of Radio, Film and Television
6. General Administration of Press and Publication (National Copyright Administration)
7. State General Administration of Sports
8. National Bureau of Statistics
9. State Forestry Administration
10. State Administration of Work Safety
11. State Intellectual Property Office (SIPO)
12. National Tourism Administration
13. State Administration for Religious Affairs
14. Counselor's Office of the State Council
15. Government Offices Administration of the State Council
16. National Bureau of Corruption Prevention

Administrative Offices under the State Council

1. Overseas Chinese Affairs Office
2. Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office
3. Legislative Affairs Office
4. State Council Research Office
5. Taiwan Affairs Office (also as a CPC institution), under CPC Central Committee
6. State Council Information Office (also as a CPC institution), under CPC Central Committee
7. 610 Office

Institutions directly under the State Council

1. Xinhua News Agency
2. Chinese Academy of Sciences
3. Chinese Academy of Social Sciences
4. Chinese Academy of Engineering
5. Development Research Center
6. China National School of Administration
7. China Earthquake Administration
8. China Meteorological Administration
9. China Banking Regulatory Commission (CBRC)
10. China Securities Regulatory Commission
11. China Insurance Regulatory Commission
12. State Electricity Regulatory Commission
13. National Council for Social Security Fund
14. National Natural Science Foundation
15. State Archives Administration (also as a CPC institution), under General Office of CPC Central Committee

State Administrations and Bureaus under the Ministries and Commissions

1. State Bureau for Letters and Calls, under General Office of the State Council
2. State Administration of Grain, under National Development and Reform Commission
3. National Energy Administration, under National Development and Reform Commission
4. State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defence, under Ministry of Industry and Information Technology
5. State Tobacco Monopoly Administration (China National Tobacco Corporation), under Ministry of Industry and Information Technology
6. State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs, under Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security
7. State Bureau of Civil Servants, under Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security
8. State Oceanic Administration, under Ministry of Land and Resources
9. Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC), under Ministry of Transport
10. State Bureau of Surveying and Mapping, under Ministry of Land and Resources
11. State Post Bureau, under Ministry of Transport
12. State Administration of Cultural Heritage, under Ministry of Culture
13. State Food and Drug Administration (SFDA), under Ministry of Health
14. State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, under Ministry of Health
15. State Administration of Foreign Exchange, under People's Bank of China
16. State Administration of Coal Mine Safety, under State Administration of Work Safety
17. National Administration for the Protection of State Secrets (also as a CPC institution), under General Office of CPC Central Committee
18. State Cryptography Administration (also as a CPC institution), under General Office of CPC Central Committee
19. China National Space Administration, a name reserved by Ministry of Industry and Information Technology
20. China Atomic Energy Authority, a name reserved by Ministry of Industry and Information Technology
21. State Language Commission, a name reserved by Ministry of Education
22. National Nuclear Safety Administration, a name reserved by Ministry of Environmental Protection

See also

• Central People's Government (1949-1954)
• Ministries of the People's Republic of China

References

External links

• Official website
• Organizational structure

The Central State Organs of the People's Republic of China           National People's Congress                                             NPC Standing Committee                               President                                                                                                               State Council   Central Military Commission   Supreme People's Court   Supreme People's Procuratorate

State Council of the People's Republic of China Li's Government (General Office, Secretary-General) State Council members (Li's Cabinet) (Plenary meeting) Executive meeting Premier Vice Premiers State Councillors Secretary-General Ministers of Ministries and Commissions Auditor-General Ministries and Cabinet-level Commissions Agriculture Civil Affairs Commerce Culture Development and Reform Education Environmental Protection Ethnic Affairs Finance Foreign Affairs Health and Family Planning Housing and Urban-Rural Development Human Resources and Social Security Industry and Information Technology Justice Land and Resources National Audit Office National Defense People's Bank Public Security Science and Technology State Security Supervision Transport Water Resources Special organization State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission Organizations China National Tourism Administration Counselor's Office of the State Council General Administration of Customs State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine State Administration of Government Offices National Bureau of Corruption Prevention National Bureau of Statistics State Administration for Industry and Commerce State Administration for Religious Affairs State Administration of Taxation State Administration of Work Safety State Forestry Administration State General Administration of Sports State Intellectual Property Office Administrative offices Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Information/Internet Legislative Affairs Overseas Chinese Affairs Research Taiwan Affairs Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits Anti-cult Institutions Academy of Engineering Academy of Sciences Academy of Social Sciences Banking Regulatory Commission Development Research Center Earthquake Administration Insurance Regulatory Commission Meteorological Administration National Council for Social Security Fund National Natural Science Foundation National School of Administration Securities Regulatory Commission State Archives Administration State Electricity Regulatory Commission Xinhua News Agency State administrations/bureaus administrated by Cabinet-level agencies Atomic Energy Authority Civil Aviation Administration National Administration for the Protection of State Secrets National Energy Administration National Nuclear Safety Administration National Space Administration State Administration for Science, Technology and Industry for National Defence State Administration of Coal Mine Safety State Administration of Cultural Heritage State Administration of Foreign Exchange State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs State Administration of Grain State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine State Bureau for Letters and Calls State Bureau of Civil Servants State Bureau of Surveying and Mapping State Cryptography Administration State Food and Drug Administration State Language Commission State Oceanic Administration China Coast Guard State Post Bureau China Post State Tobacco Monopoly Administration China National Tobacco Corporation Special Commissions and Steering Committees State Commission for Public Sector Reform Commission Office Commission on Food Safety National Energy Commission National Defense Mobilization Commission Leading Group for Coordinating the South-North Water Transfer Project Leading Group for Coordinating the Three Gorges Dam Project Leading Group for the Transformation of the State Council Other agencies Liaison Office in Hong Kong SAR Liaison Office in Macau SAR People's Armed Police State Council is one in the same as the Central People's Government (constitutionally since 1954)

12th State Council of the People's Republic of China (2013-2018) Li Keqiang (Premier) Vice Premiers Zhang Gaoli Liu Yandong Wang Yang Ma Kai State Councilors Yang Jing (also Secretary-General) Chang Wanquan Yang Jiechi Guo Shengkun Wang Yong Ministers Agriculture Han Changfu Civil Affairs Li Liguo Commerce Gao Hucheng Construction Jiang Weixin→Chen Zhenggao Culture Cai Wu→Luo Shugang Defense Chang Wanquan Education Yuan Guiren Finance Lou Jiwei Environment Zhou Shengxian→Chen Jining Foreign Wang Yi Industry and Information Miao Wei Justice Wu Aiying Labor Yin Weimin Public Security Guo Shengkun Resources Jiang Daming Science and Technology Wan Gang State Security Geng Huichang Supervision Huang Shuxian Transport Yang Chuantang Water Chen Lei Commissioners Development Xu Shaoshi Ethnic Affairs Wang Zhengwei Health Li Bin Other bodies Auditor General Liu Jiayi Central Bank Governor Zhou Xiaochuan